Jesusis
our faithful Shepherd,
and our sovereign King! Nothing is more
important than knowing and following Him! But we could neither
know nor follow Him until He touched our hearts, filled us with
His Spirit, and opened our "eyes" -- enabling us to see both our
own depravity and His undeserved grace in the revealing light of
his holiness.

Through the cross,
our wonderful
Savior took the punishment for our sins and brought
us into an intimate relationship with Himself that will last
forever. [See Guilty as Charged]

The
Scriptures below show the way to enter into that relationship,
trade our weakness for His strength, receive His life of joy and
peace, and participate in His victory now and for all eternity.

Why we all need Him:

"All have sinned and fall short of the glory of God…" Romans
3:23

"The wages of sin is death, but the gift of God is eternal
life in Christ Jesus our Lord." Romans 6:23

"What I am doing, I do not understand. For what I will to
do, that I do not practice; but what I hate, that I do…. For
the good that I will to do, I do not do; but the evil I will
not to do, that I practice." Romans 7:15, 19

How much He loves us:

"God demonstrates His own love toward us, in that while we
were still sinners, Christ died for us." Romans 5:8

"For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten
Son, that whoever believes in Him should not perish but have
everlasting life." John 3:16

"God our Savior… desires all men to be saved and to come to
the knowledge of the truth." 1 Timothy 2:3-4

"Surely He has borne our griefs and carried our sorrows;
Yet we esteemed Him stricken, smitten by God, and afflicted.
But He was wounded for our transgressions,
He was bruised for our iniquities; The
chastisement for our peace was upon Him, And by
His stripes we are healed." Isaiah 53:4-6

"He loved us and sent His Son to be the propitiation for our
sins." 1 John 4: 11

"He came to His own, and His own did not receive Him.
But as many as received Him, to them He gave the right to
become children of God, to those who believe in His name:
who were born, not of blood, nor of the will of the flesh,
nor of the will of man, but of God." John 1:11-13

How you, too, may
receive His gift of abundant life:

Jesus said, "...he who hears My word and believes in Him
who sent Me has everlasting life, and shall not come into
judgment, but has passed from death into life. John 5:24

"I am the way, the truth, and the life. No one comes to the
Father
except through Me." John 14:6

"No one can come to Me unless the Father who sent Me
draws him...." John 6:44

The phrase "believes in Him"
implies a Spirit-given -

understanding and
response to the Gospel (as presented in His Word whether preached,
taught or read).

conviction of sin and a
recognition of our own depravity (as seen in the light of God's
Holiness).

willingness to come to
Him and surrender your life into the hands of our sovereign Lord.

In other words, believing the
gospel is not
simply a human or moral decision. It's not enough to believe that God
exists; for, as James (2:19) points out, "Even the demons believe—and
tremble!" Saving faith is given to us by God's grace; it is His undeserved
gift to sinners. Only through the power of His Word and Spirit can we
understand our own need and trust the wonderful truth about God and His
death on our behalf.

If God is drawing you
to Himself and you long to receive the cleansing, forgiveness and eternal
life that He makes available to us through the Cross, trust Him to show you
the way. Your prayer might include the following:

Acknowledge the Bible uses the word
"confess" who Christ is:

"If
you confess with your mouth the Lord Jesus and believe
in your heart that God has raised Him from the dead, you
will be saved." Romans 10:9

Confess your sins:
Admit in prayer that you have sinned against Him. The words
King David prayed may help you:

"Search me, O God, and know my heart... and see if there
is any wicked way in me, and lead me in the way
everlasting." Psalm 139:23-24

Repent
(based on genuine Spirit-given conviction of sin --
not simply your human choice): Express your willingness and desire to turn from all
wrong ways and follow Jesus, then trust Him -- now and each
coming day -- to accomplish it by His Spirit in you.

“He said to me, 'My grace is sufficient for you, for My
strength is made perfect in weakness.' Therefore most
gladly I will rather boast in my infirmities, that the
power of Christ may rest upon me." 2 Corinthians 12:9-10

"I say to you that likewise there will be more joy in
heaven over one sinner who repents than over ninety-nine
just persons who need no repentance." Luke 15:7

Thank Him:Thank Him for the "exchanged life" He offers us. If
He indeed is drawing your to Himself and doing a a
supernatural work in your heart, He can take your weak and
sinful life and, in turn, fill you with His good and
perfect life. Then He will enable you to know His will,
persevere through life's struggles, and share His
triumph -- now and forever.

"Now then, we are ambassadors for Christ, as though God
were pleading through us: we implore you on Christ’s
behalf, be reconciled to God. For He made Him who knew
no sin to be sin for us, that we might become the
righteousness of God in Him." 2 Corinthians 5:20-21

You may want
pray something like this, but remember: Conversion (regeneration and
spiritual birth into His family) is His work, not yours. If there is no
repentance -- no conviction of your natural, sinful condition, or any
God-given awareness of your need
for the cross -- then such a prayer is simply a human exercise and will not
bring spiritual birth (hear this tape, Conversion):

"Dear Lord, I know I have sinned
and don't deserve Your love. But I believe that You died for me,
carried my sins to the cross and offer me full forgiveness for all
my sins. Please change my
heart, fill me with your Spirit, and purify my life. Only by Your holy life in
me can I follow Your ways and do what is right. Give me a hunger for
your Word and a growing desire to serve You. I trust you to show me your
will and enable me to follow you -- no matter what the cost.

"For by
grace you have been saved through faith, and that not of
yourselves; it is the gift of God, not of works, lest anyone
should boast." Ephesians 2:8-9

The basis for my salvation

"God forbid that I should boast except in the cross of our Lord
Jesus Christ, by whom the world has been crucified to me, and I
to the world." Galatians
6:14

"For the
message of the cross is foolishness to those who are perishing,
but to us who are saved it is the power of God." 1
Corinthians 1:18

"For if
when we were enemies we were reconciled to God through the death of His
Son, much more, having been reconciled, we shall be saved by His life."
Romans 5:10

"...as many of us as were baptized into Christ Jesus were baptized
into His death? Therefore we were buried with Him through baptism
into death, that just as Christ was raised from the dead by the glory
of the Father, even so we also should walk in newness of life." Romans 6:3

Oswald Chambers: "The danger is to put the emphasis on
the effect instead of on the cause - ‘It is my obedience that puts me
right with God, my consecration.’ Never! I am put right with God because
prior to all, Christ died.

"When I turn to God and by belief accept what God reveals I can accept,
instantly the stupendous Atonement of Jesus Christ rushes me into a
right relationship with God, and by the supernatural miracle of God’s
grace I stand justified, not because I am sorry for my sin, not
because I have repented, but because of what Jesus has done. The
spirit of God brings it with a breaking, all-over light, and I know,
though I do not know how, that I am saved."

My response to His
saving grace

"Peter said to them,
'Repent, and let every one of you be baptized in the name of Jesus
Christ for the remission of sins; and you shall receive the gift of
the Holy Spirit. For the promise is to you and to your children, and
to all who are afar off, as many as the Lord our God will call.'" Acts 2:38

"He who believes and
is baptized will be saved; but he who does not believe will be
condemned." Mark
16:16

“...baptizing them in the name of the Father
and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, teaching them to observe all things that I
have commanded you....” Matthew 28:18-20

"...do you not know
that as many of us as were baptized into Christ Jesus were baptized
into His death? Therefore we were buried with Him through baptism
into death, that just as Christ was raised from the dead by the glory
of the Father, even so we also should walk in newness of life." Romans 6:3

"For by one Spirit
we were all baptized into one body—whether Jews or Greeks, whether
slaves or free—and have all been made to drink into one Spirit."
1 Corinthians
12:13

"Then Philip opened
his mouth, and beginning at this Scripture, preached Jesus to him. Now
as they went down the road, they came to some water. And the eunuch
said, 'See, here is water. What hinders me from being baptized?' Then Philip said,
'If you believe with all your heart, you
may.'" Acts
8:35

"And he
commanded them to be baptized in the name of Jesus Christ." Acts
10:48

How He changes our lives
when we believe in Him:

"If anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation; old things
have passed away; behold, all things have become new. For
He made Him who knew no sin to be sin for us, that we might become
the righteousness of God in Him. 2 Corinthians 5:17, 21

"I have been crucified
with Christ; it is no longer I who live, but Christ lives in me; and the
life which I now live in the flesh I live by faith in the Son of God, who
loved me and gave Himself for me." Galatians 2:20

"God, who is rich in mercy, because of His great love
with which He loved us, even when we were dead in trespasses,
made us alive together with Christ by grace you have been saved,
and raised us up together, and made us sit together in the heavenly
places in Christ Jesus, that in the ages to come He might show
the exceeding riches of His grace in His kindness toward us in
Christ Jesus.

"For by grace you have been saved through faith, and that not of yourselves;
it is the gift of God, not of works, lest anyone should boast. For we are
His workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared
beforehand that we should walk in them." Ephesians 2:4-10

"What shall we say
then? Shall we continue in sin that grace may abound? Certainly not!
How shall we who died to sin live any longer in it? Or do you not
know that as many of us as were baptized into Christ Jesus
were baptized into His death? Therefore we were buried with Him
through baptism into death, that just as Christ was raised from the
dead by the glory of the Father, even so we also should walk in
newness of life. "For if we have been united together in
the likeness of His death, certainly we also shall be in the likeness of
His resurrection, knowing this, that our old man was
crucified with Him, that the body of sin might be done away
with, that we should no longer be slaves of sin....

"Likewise you also, reckon yourselves to be dead indeed to sin, but
alive to God in Christ Jesus our Lord." Romans 6:1-6, 11

Our mission as the family of God
[at home or abroad]:

Jesus told His
disciples: “All authority has been given to Me in heaven and on earth. Go
therefore and make disciples of all the nations, baptizing them
[new
believers, not nations] in the name of the Father and of the Son
and of the Holy Spirit, teaching them to observe all things that I
have commanded you; and lo, I am with you always, even to the end of
the age.” Matthew 28:18-20

"...we do not
preach ourselves, but Christ Jesus the Lord, and ourselves your
bondservants for Jesus’ sake. For it is the God who commanded light to
shine out of darkness, who has shone in our hearts to give the light
of the knowledge of the glory of God in the face of Jesus Christ."
2
Corinthians 4:5-6

"You
are the light of the world. A city that is set on a hill cannot be
hidden. Nor do they light a lamp and put it under a basket, but on a lampstand, and it gives light to all who are in the house. Let your
light so shine before men, that they may see your good works and
glorify your Father in heaven."
Matthew 5:14-16

What we can expect as followers of Christ:

"If the world hates
you, you know that it hated Me before it hated you…. If they persecuted Me,
they will also persecute you…. because they do not know Him who sent Me. "
John 15:20-21

"For to you it has
been granted on behalf of Christ, not only to believe in Him, but also to
suffer for His sake...." Philippians 1:29

Does this sound too hard? Have
you taken time to "count the cost" of being a Christian?

Many misunderstand God's
"good news" of salvation to mean "cheap grace" -- the kind of
relationship that demands nothing of us. True, salvation is purely by His gracious
response to our faith. But once we have chosen to believe and follow Him, we become
His ambassadors -- called to share His suffering as well as His triumphs -- in this
world.

"And whoever does not bear
his cross and come after Me cannot be My disciple. For which of you, intending to build
a tower, does not sit down first and count the cost, whether he has
enough to finish it.... So likewise, whoever of you does not forsake all
that he has cannot be My disciple." Luke 14:27-28, 33

But remember, the suffering and
sacrifice that comes with discipleship cannot compare with the joy, peace and
eternal
glory that we share with Him for all eternity:

"Beloved, do not think
it strange concerning the fiery trial which is to try you, as though some
strange thing happened to you; but rejoice to the extent that you partake of
Christ's sufferings, that when His glory is revealed, you may also be glad
with exceeding joy." 1 Peter 4:12-14

"We know that all
things work together for good to those who love God, to those who are the
called according to His purpose. For whom He foreknew, He also predestined
to be conformed to the image of His Son…." Romans 8:28-29

"Who shall separate us
from the love of Christ? Shall tribulation, or distress, or persecution, or
famine, or nakedness, or peril, or sword? … Yet in all these things we are
more than conquerors through Him who loved us. For I am persuaded that
neither death nor life, nor angels nor principalities nor powers, nor things
present nor things to come, nor height nor depth, nor any other created
thing, shall be able to separate us from the love of God which is in Christ
Jesus our Lord."
Romans 8:35-39

How we
may share in His triumph:

"…we also glory in
tribulations, knowing that tribulation produces perseverance; and
perseverance, character; and character, hope. Now hope does not disappoint,
because the love of God has been poured out in our hearts by the Holy Spirit
who was given to us." Romans 5:4-5

"A new commandment I
give to you, that you love one another; as I have loved you, that you also
love one another. By this all will know that you are My disciples, if you
have love for one another." John 13:34-35

"…present your bodies
a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable to God, which is your reasonable
service. And do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the
renewing of your mind, that you may prove what is that good and acceptable
and perfect will of God." Romans 12:1-3

"…let us lay aside
every weight, and the sin which so easily ensnares us, and let us run with
endurance the race that is set before us, looking unto Jesus, the author and
finisher of our faith, who for the joy that was set before Him endured the
cross…." Hebrews
12:1-2

Our prayer for you:

"...may
the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace in believing, that
you may abound in hope by the power of the Holy Spirit."
Romans 15:13

"...that He
would grant you, according to the riches of His glory, to be
strengthened with might through His Spirit in the inner man, that
Christ may dwell in your hearts through faith; that you, being
rooted and grounded in love, may be able to comprehend with all the
saints what is the width and length and depth and height -- to know
the love of Christ which passes knowledge; that you may be filled
with all the fullness of God. Now to Him who is able to do
exceedingly abundantly above all that we ask or think, according to
the power that works in us, to Him be glory… forever and ever." Ephesians
3:14-21

"Now may the God of peace Himself sanctify you
completely; and may your whole spirit, soul, and body be preserved blameless
at the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ. He who calls you is faithful,
who also will do it." 1 Thessalonians
5:23

For
your encouragement:

If God has used this page to bring you into
His eternal family
-- and if you long to know Him and follow His wonderful way -- we offer you
a Bible study that will help. Just go to A Wardrobe
from the Kingand download each
of the eight lessons. Please tell us how He drew you to Himself,
so that we can thank Him with you.